Rating
80
Green River Honey Finished Bourbon Whiskey is very good, surprisingly so. Why surprisingly? Because, frankly, I’ve never been much of a fan of honey cask-finished bourbons. So, for me to say that this stands out means that Green River is doing something special.
My biggest concern was that the honey finish would be too heavy-handed, which would have been an immediate turnoff. However, thankfully, the honey simply adds an extra layer of mild sweetness while still allowing the bourbon profile to shine through. This is probably the first honey-finished bourbon I’ve genuinely enjoyed since getting into whiskey. There’s also a solid baking spice backbone that keeps this four-year-old Green River Kentucky Straight bourbon from becoming overly sweet.
With an MSRP of $24.99, some may not consider this a neat-sipping bourbon. However, it absolutely is. The price-to-experience ratio is off the charts. In hindsight, I probably should have expected it, because Green River hasn’t missed when it comes to delivering strong value relative to the tasting experience.
I know I mentioned this earlier, but at 92 proof, the baking spice backbone is what makes this honey cask-finished bourbon work so well. It acts as the linchpin, balancing the sweetness and keeping the profile grounded in bourbon rather than drifting into something overly dessert-like. At $24.99, this is an absolute no-brainer purchase.
